Russia switches Europeans to horses and donkeys

"Making high fuel price threats, Russian propaganda spreads "European" ad shot in Moscow suburbs. A "social video" is being given out in Russian state mass media and Telegram channels. The video shows a man getting on a horse-drawn Mini Cooper in a parking lot, while the car is filled with hay. Another hero of the video tries to ride a donkey.

The video ends with "good" advice in English with Russian subtitles: "Dear Europeans, switch to alternative transport because soon petrol will be too expensive." Ukrin

Russians hit Kherson city center, injuring three people, one in serious condition

"Russian troops shelled Kherson city again." Ukrin

New details emerge about Ukrainian ‘gift’ explosion at Polish police HQ

"A grenade launcher that allegedly exploded at a Polish police headquarters, injuring a top
commander, had not been subjected to any border or customs checks as it arrived in the country from Ukraine, Poland’s Zet radio has reported.

The weapon had been delivered to Poland by train, which runs between Ukraine and the Polish border town of Przemysl, sources told the outlet on Friday.

Poland has demanded explanations from the Ukrainian side over the incident." RT

 

Russian Diplomat Hospitalized In Mail-Bomb 'Terror Attack'

"Russian government has said one of its diplomats stationed in the Central African Republic was hospitalized Friday after opening a letter bomb, which detonated upon opening. "Dmitry Sitiy, who runs the Bangui branch of Russian House, a state-funded cultural center that promotes Russian culture around the world, collected a parcel addressed to him from a DHL office earlier on Friday, according to a source in the Russian Embassy cited by news agency RIA Novosti," The Moscow Times writes." ZH

Poland Demands Answers After 'Gift' Police Chief Received From Ukraine Officials Exploded

"Poland's police chief Jaroslaw Szymczyk was hospitalized after a "gift" package that he
received exploded, according to international reports, after a recent string of similar exploding mail and package incidents across Europe believed related to the war in Ukraine. 

Poland's Interior Ministry confirmed, "Yesterday at 7:50 a.m., an explosion occurred in a room adjacent to the office of the Police Chief." It's said that Szymczyk only sustained minor injuries. "During the Police Chief's working visit to Ukraine on December 11-12 this year, where he met with the heads of the Ukrainian Police and Emergency Situations Service, he received some gifts, one of which exploded," the statement detailed." ZH

Ukraine hits Donetsk with worst shelling in eight years

"The city of Donetsk has been subjected to the largest-scale Ukrainian artillery attack since the region rebelled against Kiev in the wake of the 2014 armed coup in Kiev, local officials have said. A cathedral was among the buildings hit by Kiev’s artillery." RT

Vatican apologizes to Russia

"The Vatican has issued a formal apology to Russia for derogatory remarks made by Pope Francis last month about some ethnic groups in the country, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

The ministry received the message on Thursday from Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. It expressed the Holy See’s respect for “all peoples of Russia, their dignity, faith and culture, just like all other nations and peoples of the world,” Zakharova told a press briefing.

Pope Francis made a negative generalized assessment of the character of Buryats and Chechens, two of the many ethnic groups living in Russia, in an interview published in late November. He described them as “of Russia but… not of the Russian tradition” and claimed that such people were “the cruelest” of the Russian troops in Ukraine." RT

Enemy launches 23 airstrikes on civilian infrastructure

"During the day  Russia launched 23 airstrikes and seven missile strikes on the civilian
infrastructure of the towns of Kurakhove and Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region." Ukein

Ukraine Seizes Assets Of Russian Orthodox Clerics

"Ukraine has ratcheted up its campaign against a branch of the Eastern Orthodox church with
ties to Russia. On the order of President Volodymyr Zelensky, seven senior clerics from the Russian Orthodox church will have their assets seized and face bans on a range of economic and legal activities." ZH

Vladimir Putin called “archangel” and “God-loving Ruler” in prayer books for soldiers

"A prayer for the Russian dictator is conspicuous in the booklet. “Give Victory to Supreme Commander Vladimir, brave Archangel and God-loving Ruler of Russia,” one of the lines reads. Above the prayer is a cross symbol, and to its left and right are Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Vladimir Putin is called in the prayer book “the archangel – the leader of the heavenly hosts”, thus being compared to the archangel Michael." PolandNews

Russian forces hit Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast

"Russian invaders struck the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast.....The air-raid siren was sounded in the city from 12:50 to 13:30." Pravada

Situation in Kosovo resembles Ukraine

"The ongoing standoff in Kosovo bears an uncanny resemblance to the Donbass crisis,
Russia's envoy to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko told Rossiya 24 TV channeL.

“The whole situation, everything, including Pristina’s attitude towards the Kosovo Serbs, resembles, although on a smaller scale, what has happened and is still happening in Ukraine,” the diplomat said. The West is also treating the ethnic Albanian government in Kosovo the same way it has Kiev, he argued. 

Comparing the Donbass crisis to tensions in Kosovo, the ambassador added that “Pristina’s desire … to take control over all of Kosovo, including the regions inhabited by Serbs, at all cost” is what “lies at the heart” of this standoff. Any further escalation would lead to more drastic consequences, Botsan-Kharchenko warned." RT

India accuses China over Himalayan border unrest

"Beijing has been accused of trying to “unilaterally” change the status quo on the disputed Himalayan border between India and China, according to a statement by India’s defense ministry on Tuesday.

Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh last week, marking the first altercation between the two nuclear-armed powers in nearly two years. New Delhi said soldiers from both sides sustained only minor injuries.  AFP reported at least six Indian soldiers were injured in the scuffle." RT

Russian forces hit Kherson using MLRS and artillery

"Russian military launched another artillery attack on Kherson and its suburbs. A woman has been killed, and four people have been injured. " Pravada

Who Is Purposely Sabotaging Power Plants All Over America?

"Someone has been attacking power plants all over the country, and federal authorities are
trying to determine who it is.  In recent days, we have seen significant sabotage on both the east and west coasts, and so it can’t just be one individual that is responsible. 

The recent incident in North Carolina was particularly alarming.

At approximately 7 PM on Saturday night, gunfire erupted at two electrical substations in Moore County.  Officials are calling this “an intentional and coordinated attack”…

Duke Energy restored power to all of its North Carolina customers Wednesday evening, four days after 45,000 customers were left in the dark after what officials have said was an intentional and coordinated attack on two substations in Moore County. Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields has said a motive for the attack is not known. It is also not clear what kind of protective measures were in place to prevent such an assault." ZH